Dead Take's FMVs Elevate Horror with Real-Life Performances
Surgent Studios, known for Tales of Kenzera: Zau, delves into the horror genre with Dead Take, a game that explores the chilling depths of ambition and the lengths one might go for stardom. While it employs standard horror tropes like jumpscares to quicken the pulse, the game’s most profoundly unsettling moments emerge not from sudden frights, but from the raw, compelling performances of its cast.
Players step into the shoes of Chase Lowry, portrayed by Neil Newbon, a struggling actor on a desperate quest to find his friend, Vinnie Monroe (Ben Starr), within the eerie mansion of enigmatic Hollywood producer Duke Cain (Abubakar Salim). Dead Take seamlessly blends the exploratory and puzzle-solving elements familiar to Resident Evil fans with a narrative almost entirely conveyed through Full Motion Video (FMV) cutscenes – a technology that harks back to earlier eras of gaming but feels remarkably fresh here. The core gameplay loop involves discovering fragmented video clips – including interviews, auditions, and personal messages – and then meticulously splicing them together using an advanced AI editor. These newly assembled videos progressively unveil crucial plot points and solutions to intricate puzzles. While this mechanism might sound typical for a video game, its true impact lies in the extraordinary commitment of the actors.
Throughout Dead Take, players witness Vinnie’s increasingly desperate attempts to secure a coveted role in Duke Cain’s next blockbuster. His hunger for success is palpable, reaching a fever pitch when a concerned call from Chase interrupts an audition, prompting Duke to question Vinnie’s dedication. In a chilling display of his unraveling ambition, Vinnie brutally lashes out at Chase. Unlike many video game protagonists, who often serve as blank slates for player projection, Chase Lowry, through Newbon’s portrayal, feels distinctly defined, making it difficult for the player to simply inhabit him. This is a strength, as the live-action performances by flesh-and-blood actors prove far more engrossing than their polygonal counterparts. While Newbon and Starr delivered excellent voice performances in titles like Baldur’s Gate III and Final Fantasy XVI, their on-screen presence in Dead Take elevates their craft to an entirely different plane.
Ben Starr’s portrayal of Vinnie is particularly noteworthy, delivering moments that genuinely unnerve. While a few jumpscares were effective, and the mansion’s quiet, unsettling atmosphere occasionally made the reviewer jump at their own shadow, it is Starr’s performance that stands as the game’s most terrifying element. One specific scene, during an audition take, depicts Vinnie unleashing a primal scream at his costar, reminiscent of certain infamous real-life outbursts. This moment is executed with such visceral power and raw emotion that it blurs the line between acting and reality, creating a disturbing resonance for anyone familiar with volatile and abusive behavior.
Not every performance in Dead Take is a bone-chilling depiction of ambition’s dark side. The game also incorporates elements of humor, notably through Sam Lake (known for his work on Remedy’s Alan Wake series), who delivers a hilarious turn as a washed-up director. Further comedic relief arises from the clever plot device that sees British actors Ben Starr and Neil Newbon playing American actors attempting Southern accents, leading to amusing moments when their carefully constructed personas momentarily falter.
Yet, despite these lighter touches, Dead Take remains firmly rooted in its commitment to frights. Without the integration of FMVs, the game would likely be a competent but ultimately forgettable entry in the horror genre. However, by embracing a technology that some might consider antiquated, Surgent Studios has transformed Dead Take into a standout horror experience, even for those who typically shy away from the genre.